Conveying machine for containers

ABSTRACT

A conveying machine for containers, comprising at least one base module having a predetermined length according to a feed direction of the containers and at least a supporting carriage for the containers slidably mounted on said base module. The base module and carriage together define a linear motor, wherein the stator is the base module and the rotor is the carriage. The machine comprises a supporting plate for the containers, which is rotatably mounted on the carriage and means for moving the plate, which is operatively connected to the plate to rotate it on itself.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/062,539, filed Jun. 14, 2018 and scheduled to issue as U.S. patentSer. No. 10/518,987 on Dec. 31, 2019, which is a U.S. National Stage ofPCT/162016/05761, filed Dec. 14, 2016, which claims priority to ITApplication No. 102015000082929, filed Dec. 14, 2015. These applicationsare incorporated in their entirety by reference herein.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR A JOINTINVENTOR

Not Applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable.

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR ASA TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM (EFS-WEB)

Not Applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR A JOINTINVENTOR

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a conveying machine for containers. Inparticular, the present invention relates to the sector of work machinesfor containers suitable for moving a container along a predefined feeddirection and for carrying out, during the movement, a plurality ofautomatic operations thereon (e.g. labelling, filling, capping, . . . )by means of predefined units connected along the feed direction.

(2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37CFR 1.97 and 1.98

At present, conveying machines used for operating on containers are, atleast in the majority, of the rotating carousel type. The carousel has,on a periphery thereof, predefined supporting stations (commonly definedby a “plate”) on which the containers to be treated are positioned. Inparticular, the carousel has a central rotation axis and for the plateshas respective rotation axes parallel to the central axis.

Each plate is rotatable on itself by taking the movement mechanicallyfrom the rotation of the carousel (for example by means of cam organs oranother method) or, in the most recent machines, is provided with itsown electric motor that is commendable by a control unit independentlywith respect to the rotation of the carousel.

In this way the container loaded on the plate can be rotated as afunction of the work units arranged along the carousel. For example, inorder to carry out labelling operations on the container, it isnecessary to perform a preliminary rotation of the container on itselfin order to detect the application position of the label (by means of asuitable detecting sensor) in order then to arrange the container in theposition prior to or at the labelling unit.

However, the present technology has some drawbacks.

In fact, according to the production velocity to be attained, accordingto how many labels are to be applied on the container and according tothe diameter of the container, it is necessary to modify, time by time,the diameter of the carousel, the number of plates, the number of thelabelling units. For example, a carousel having a diameter of 600 mm isonly just sufficient for housing 4 labelling units. If it were necessaryto add a further labelling group or, for example, a laser printer or aviewing system for quality control of the labelling, there would be nomore space available and therefore it would be necessary to pass to acarousel having a larger diameter.

The greater the diameter of the carousel, the greater the length of theperiphery thereof and naturally the greater the possibility of couplingmodules therewith.

Therefore, each carousel has a maximum number of modules that can beapplied and if it is desired to add others it is necessary to change thecarousel (with all the drawbacks involved).

Additionally if it is desired to increase the production velocity it isnecessary to increase the number of plates, which naturally implicatesthe need to increase the diameter of the carousel. Once the diameter ofthe carousel and the number of the plates are defined, the step of themachine is automatically defined, i.e. the distance between onecontainer and another.

Further, a further consideration to be made is that the application ofthe label on the container, whether using paste paper or whether thelabel is self-adhesive, should be done in such a way that the peripheralvelocities of the label and the container are equal (so as to avoid theformation of wrinkles, reciprocal sliding or poor positioning of thelabel). Therefore, the length of the label, as well as the physicaldimensions of the container, represents a datum to be taken into accountduring the step of dimensioning the machine step. In other words, it isdifficult to implement the application of a label that is longer thanthe machine step.

Consequently, the machine step also determines the maximum length of thelabel that can be applied.

Further, as the periphery of the carousel is round, the coupling of thelabelling modules thereto is carried out on a rounded surface, and thisis difficult to carry out with respect to a linear machine (nowadaysrarely used).

Lastly, it should be noted that in order to guarantee a correctapplication of the label to the container, the peripheral velocities ofthe container and the label must be the same. This means that theperipheral velocity of the label must coincide with the product of theangular velocity of the carousel multiplied by the sum of the radius ofthe carousel and the radius of the container. Therefore the greater theradius of the container, the greater the velocity of the label must be.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In this situation, the object of the present invention is to realise aconveying machine for containers which obviates the above-citeddrawbacks.

It is a particular aim of the present invention to realise a conveyingmachine for containers which enables modifying the productioncharacteristics by reducing the physical modifications to be carried outon the machine or the treatment units of the containers.

A further aim of the present invention is to realise a conveying machinefor containers which enables applying labels having different lengths tothe containers in movement, independently of the production velocityand/or the curvature of the carousel.

The above-indicated objects are substantially attained by a conveyingmachine for containers according to what is described in the appendedclaims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

Further characteristics and the advantages of the present invention willappear more clearly from the detailed description of some preferred, butnot exclusive, embodiments of a conveying machine for containersillustrated in the appended drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view from above of the conveying machine ofcontainers according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic and section view of a detail of the conveyingmachine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3a is a lateral view in section of a first embodiment of theconveying machine for containers,

FIG. 3b is a lateral view in section of a first variant of the firstembodiment of the conveying machine for containers;

FIG. 3c is a lateral view in section of a second variant of the firstembodiment of the conveying machine for containers;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view from above of a second embodiment of theconveying machine of containers;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view from above of a variant of the secondembodiment of the conveying machine of containers;

FIGS. 6 and 7 is a schematic lateral view of two possible alternativeembodiments of the variant of the second embodiment of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 8 is a lateral view in section of a further variant of the secondembodiment of the conveying machine of containers.

With reference to the cited figures, reference numeral 1 denotes in itsentirety a conveying machine for containers 2 according to the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The conveying machine 1 comprises at least one base module 3 having apredefined length according to a feed direction 4 of the containers 2and at least a supporting carriage 5 for the containers 2 slidablymounted on said base module 3 and mobile along said feed direction 4 formovement of the containers 2. In this way, the carriage 5 and the basemodule 3 define at least a part of a main feed circuit.

In particular, the base module 3 and carriage 5 together define a linearmotor, wherein the stator 6 is defined by the base module 3 and therotor 7 is defined by the carriage 5. The linear motor is preferably ofa type in which the base unit comprises a plurality of consecutiveelectric windings along the feed direction 4 and configured to generatean electromagnetic field on command. The carriage 5 comprises one ormore permanent magnets arranged in a position of interaction with saidwindings. In this way, by powering the electric windings in sequencealong the feed direction 4, a displacement of the electromagnetic fieldis created and, consequently, a displacement of the carriage 5 due tothe interaction with the permanent magnets.

This linear motor will not be further described in the following as itis a part of the prior art.

In the preferred embodiment, the carriage 5 is mounted superiorly of thebase module 3 or laterally with respect to the base module 3, orinferiorly of the base module according to a vertical referencedirection.

As can be seen in the accompanying drawings, the machine 1 comprises aplurality of base modules 3 connected consecutively to define a singlestator 6 extending along the feed direction 4 of the containers 2. Inother words, the plurality of base modules 3 are configurable between areciprocal engaged condition in which the base modules 3 are connectedconsecutively to define a single and modulable stator 6 extending alongthe feed direction 4 of the containers 2, and a disconnected conditionin which they are mutually disconnected.

In this way, the main feed circuit is modulable and it is thereforeadvantageously possible to increase or reduce the length or the shape ofthe stator 6 as a function of the number of treatment units of thecontainers 2 which is to be applied on the machine 1.

There are preferably straight base modules 3 and curved base modules 3.These modules are arranged along the feed direction 4 so as to define apredefined pathway.

The modules are preferably arranged in sequence along the feed direction4 having at least a straight forward portion 8, a curved portion 9 and astraight return portion 10. The curved portion 9 is defined by one ormore curved modules arranged in sequence so as to define this curvedportion 9. The curved portion 9 preferably defines a 180° curve and canbe formed by one or more curved modules connected in sequence. In thisway the stator 6 has a straight forward part, a straight return part anda curved part arranged between the first two parts. Further, the stator6 comprises a further curved portion 9 arranged between the returnportion and the forward portion so as to define a closed circuit. Inpractice, this closed circuit has substantially a “0” shape (zero).

In other words, the plurality of modules defines a closed circuit. It isfurther of note that the curved portion 9 has a constant radius (i.e.once mounted it remains the same for any configuration of the straightmodules). The straight portion is modulable, i.e. it is possible to adddifferent base modules 3 in sequence.

In practice, each base module 3 can extend along a straight or curveddirection.

In an alternative embodiment, the feed direction 4 is circular orannular and the base modules 3 which make it up have a curved extension,preferably with a constant radius In other words, the stator 6 has acircular shape In this way, it is advantageously possible to optimisethe perimeter length of the pathway with respect to the “0” shapementioned previously.

As the curved modules have a predefined constant radius, the machine 1advantageously enables interfacing with predefined constant-radius starconveyors of the containers 2 without any need to match the radius ofthe carousel as defined in the section relating to the prior art(naturally the invention does not include the carousel).

Further, the machine comprises at least an application unit 28 of arecognising sign on the container 2 arranged laterally with respect tothe feed direction 4 so as to apply the recognition sign on thecontainer 2. This application unit 28 is preferably a labelling unit ora printing unit or another unit besides, not expressly mentioned herein.In the following reference will mainly be made to the preferred case(but not exclusive) of the labelling unit.

Further, according to the preferred embodiment, the machine 1 comprisesa plurality of carriages 5 which are movable independently of oneanother. In other words, the carriages 5 are movable independently ofone another in such a way as to be able to vary the reciprocal distanceand also the velocity of one with respect to the other. In detail, thebase modules 3 comprise electric windings that are separatelycontrollable so as to produce electromagnetic fields in different zonesof the assembly of base modules 3 so as to be able to command differentcarriages 5 independently of one another.

The machine 1 comprises a control unit 13 operatively connected to thecarriage 5 so as to command movement thereof along the feed direction.Further, the control unit 13 is able to detect the position of thecarriage 5 along the feed direction 4.

Further, the machine 1 comprises a supporting plate 11 for thecontainers 2, which is rotatably mounted on the carriage 5 and isrotatable about its own axis orthogonal to the feed direction 4 of thecontainers 2 in such a way as to rotate a respective container 2, in usepositioned on the plate 11, about itself.

The plate 11 is configured for supporting a container 2 by a basethereof. Alternatively, the plate 11 comprises retaining meansconfigured for supporting a container 2 by a top of the container 2 (forexample by the neck—neck handling). In the latter case, the plate 11 isfacing downwards according to a vertical direction.

The machine 1 comprises means 12 for moving the plate 11, which means isoperatively connected to the plate 11 to cause the plate 11 to rotate onitself.

There are two preferred embodiments for realising said movement means12: in a first embodiment (FIGS. 1, 2, 3 a, 3 b, 3 c) the movement means12 comprises an electric motor, while in a second embodiment (FIGS. 4-8)the movement means 12 comprises a mechanical movement system forinteraction between two carriages.

Alternatively to what is illustrated, the movement means 12 mightcomprise a mechanical movement system for interaction with a fixedexternal mechanical part.

Note that the control unit 13 is operatively connected to the movementmeans 12 of the plate 11 for activating the rotation of the plate 11 orfor blocking the plate 11 in a desired rotated angular position.

According to the present invention, the control unit 13 is configuredfor:

controlling the position of the carriage 5 along the feed direction 4;

activating the rotation of the plate 11 before the carriage 5 on whichthe plate 11 is mounted has reached the application unit 28 so as tobring the container 2 loaded thereon into a desired angular position;

subsequently applying the recognition sign on the container 2 in therotated angular position.

In other words, it is important to know the position of the container 2at the application unit 28 so as to correctly apply the recognition signon the involved part of the container 2.

In particular, there are two different operating modes:

the control unit 13 is configured for maintaining the plate 11 in therotated angular position during the transit of the carriage 5 to theapplication unit 28 (e.g. neck labelling or standard adhesive). In thatcase, the movement means 12 of the plate 11 can comprise a haltingsystem for keeping the plate 11 blocked in the desired rotating angularposition; or

the control unit 13 is configured for rotating the plate 11 startingfrom the rotated angular position (known) during the transit of thecarriage 5 to the application unit 28 (e.g. roll feed, hot melt orrotating adhesive labelling).

In this way, it is advantageously possible to apply the label, or smoothit, at a predefined portion of the container 2 after the container 2 hasbeen rotated and its position is known.

In any case, the control unit detects the position of the carriage 5 andcommands the rotation of the plate before reaching the labelling unit28. In this way, the container 2 reaches the labelling unit 28 alreadyorientated in the correct position.

As mentioned above, once the correct position has been identified, theapplication of the recognition sign can take place with the bottlestationary or by rotating it on itself.

According to a first embodiment (motorised movement), the movement means12 comprises an electric motor operatively connected to the supportingplate 11 so as to rotate it. In other words, the motor is mounted on thecarriage 5. In the preferred case of a plurality of carriages 5, eachcarriage 5 has a dedicated motor.

The motor can be powered by a battery positioned directly on thecarriage 5 or can be powered via an external power supply line.

In any case, the control unit 13 is operatively connected (by means ofcables or wirelessly or in another way not expressly described herein)to the electric motor and is configured for commanding rotation thereof.

In a case where the motor is powered via an external power supply line,the control unit 13 is preferably interfaced therewith so as to controlthe electrical energy power supply.

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate an example of implementation of the connectionof each electric motor of a respective plate 11 with an electrical powersource.

In this example, the machine 1 comprises a guide 14 separate from andflanked to the base module 3, a runner 15 slidable on the guide 14 andelectric power supply cables 16 of the motor extending between thesupporting carriage 5 and an electrical connection unit 17 mounted onthe sliding runner 15. Said electrical connection unit 17 comprises arotating electrical connector connected between the electric powersupply cables of the motor and electrical power cables connectable to anelectrical power source. The rotating electrical connection unit 17 isconfigured for transmitting the electrical energy from the electricpower source of the motor and the electric power supply cables 16connectable to the electrical power source. It is further notable that arigid connecting organ 18 is present between the carriage 5 and theelectrical connection unit 17.

The control unit 13 is preferably connected to the electric motor bymeans of controlling electric cables grouped together with the electricpower cables 16 and connected to the electrical connection unit 17. Indetail, the electrical connection unit 17 is interposed along thecontrolling electric cables so as to carry a respective command signalfrom the control unit 13 to the electric motor of the plate 11. In otherwords, the control unit 13 generates a respective command signal whichis sent to the electric motor via the controlling electric cables.

Alternatively, the control unit 13 can be mounted directly at the plate11. In this case, the machine 1 comprises a plurality of control units13, each of which is mounted on a respective carriage 5.

In particular, this electrical connection system is advantageous in acase where said guide 14 and said runner 15 are arranged between saidforward portion 8 and said return portion 10 when the stator 6 (definedby the assembly of the base units) defines a closed circuit. In thisway, in fact, the power supply cables 16 of the electric motor followthe movement of the carriage 5 along the closed circuit thanks to theelectrical connection unit 17, as concerns the curved portions 9 andthanks to the slidable runner 15 for the straight portions 8, 10.

In any case it is worthy of note that the control unit 13 is configuredfor controlling the electric motors of each plate 11 independently ofone another so as to rotate the respective plates 11 independently.

A respective electrical activating unit is preferably connected to eachelectric motor, which pilots the movements thereof. The connectionbetween the activating unit and the motor is realised locally on thecarriage 5, or the motor might be provided with an integrated activatingunit. The connection between one activating unit and the other is donein series (a “daisy chain”). In this way a single series of cables 16coming from the rotating electrical connection unit and going towardsthe first activating unit is present, and then a further series ofcables from one activating unit to another.

According to a second embodiment (mechanical movement), the machine 1comprises an auxiliary carriage 27 operatively associated to arespective supporting carriage 5 and mobile with respect thereto so asto near or distance or maintain a constant distance therefrom. Inpractice, the auxiliary carriage 27 follows or anticipates thesupporting carriage 5.

The movement means 12 is arranged between the supporting carriage 5 andthe auxiliary carriage 27 and are configured for rotating the plate 11on itself in a case of reciprocal nearing or distancing between thesupporting carriage 5 and the auxiliary carriage 27 and for blocking theplate 11 in position in a case of maintaining the constant distancebetween the two.

It is worthy of note that the auxiliary carriage 27 defines the rotor ofa linear motor which can be the same linear motor that the supportingcarriage 5 is a part of or another linear motor, different to anddetached from the first.

In other words, in the first case (FIG. 4) the auxiliary carriage 27 ismounted on a base module 3 belonging to the main feed circuit of thesupporting carriage 5.

In the second case (FIG. 5), the auxiliary carriage 27 is mounted on atleast an auxiliary module 30 (preferably a plurality) belonging to anauxiliary circuit that is different with respect to the main feedcircuit and having a feed direction parallel thereto. The auxiliarycircuit defines a linear motor in which the auxiliary carriage 27 is therotor thereof.

In the latter case, the auxiliary circuit and the main feed circuit arerespectively superposed, preferably adjacently (FIGS. 6 and 7).

In both cases of the second embodiment, the movement means 12 comprisesa first part connected to the auxiliary carriage 27 and a second partconnected to the supporting carriage 5. Said first and second part arein reciprocal contact so that the movement of the first part withrespect to the second part generates a rotation of the plate (11). Inparticular, the first and the second part of the movement means 12comprises mechanical gearings.

For example, observing figures from 4 to 7, it can be seen that themechanical gearings comprise a rack for the first part and at least acogged pinion for the second part to rotate the plate 11.

The auxiliary carriage 27 is preferably mechanically connected to thesupporting carriage 5 during the movement of the carriages in such a waythat the two carriages travel in pairs substantially at the samevelocity apart from reciprocal movements for carrying out the rotationof the plate as described in the foregoing.

The machine 1 preferably comprises a follower device 31 of the containerfor detecting the orientation of the containers 2 before each thereofreaches the application unit 28.

In this case, as the application of the labels is preferably carried outalong a straight portion 8, 10, the follower device 31 can be made totravel forward and backward on another linear motor so as to remain infront of the container 2 for a portion of pathway necessary for carryingout a sampling for the subsequent rotation of the container 2. Thecarriage 5 can preferably be synchronised to the motion of the followerdevice 31, slowing or accelerating in order not to demand too-sharpdynamics of the linear motor of the follower device 31.

In other words, the follower device 31 is an external device (preferablycomprising a detector such as for example a tv camera) able to followthe bottle at least for a predefined portion of pathway upstream of theapplication unit 28 with the aim of detecting the angular position of arecognition sign thereon.

In a further alternative embodiment not illustrated in the accompanyingfigures, the movement means 12 is of a mechanical type and comprises amechanical transmission operatively interposed between the plate 11 andthe base module 3 and designed to collect the movement of the carriage 5relative to the base module 3 and to move it to the plate 11. Forexample, the mechanical movement means 12 might comprise a geared rackarranged along the stator 6 and a pinion mounted on the carriage 5 andmeshed with said rack. In a further example, the movement means 12comprises a cam organ arranged along the stator 6 and a sliding organ(e.g. a bearing) mounted on the carriage 5 and operatively in contactwith the cam organ. In this case, the cam organ is profiled so as tocause a rotation to the plate 11 at the position of predeterminedprofilings.

As mentioned in the foregoing, the machine 1 comprises one or morelabelling units 28 connected laterally with respect to the base module 3so as to operate on the container 2 in movement. The labelling unit 28is preferably connected at an engaging support 19 along a straightportion of the stator 6 so as to simplify the fixing and the applicationoperations of the label on the container 2 transiting on the carriage 5.

The connection of the labelling units 28 on the straight partadvantageously enables a drastic simplification of the engaging of thelabelling units 28 to the periphery of the machine 1, and enablesenormously simplifying the padding operations of the safety guards 20(usually made of Plexiglas) when the interchangeability function of thelabelling unit 28 is present. Making flat Plexiglas surfaces is in factmuch simpler than realising round or profiled surfaces.

For the application of the label at a straight portion 8, 10, note thatthe dispensing velocity thereof is not influenced by the diameter of thebottle, and therefore the application can be made at a slower velocity(an easier application).

In particular, the control unit 13 is configured for rotating the plate11 by a predefined angle before the labelling unit 28 so as to bring thecontainer 2 into a labelling position at least at the labelling unit 28according to the feed direction 4. In other words the control unit 13commands the electric motor of the plate 11 to rotate the container 2 onitself by a predefined angle.

In addition, the control unit 13 is configured for moving the carriages5 along the feed direction 4 between feed, stationary, reversingconfigurations. Among the feed configurations, the control unit 13 isconfigured for accelerating/slowing the carriages 5 as a function of thework requirement to be carried out on the containers 2.

In other words, the control unit 13 is configured for modulating themovement velocity of the single carriages 5. For example, the controlunit 13 might be configured for moving the carriage 5 at a slowervelocity in front of the labelling unit 28, with the aim of applying thelabel in conditions of “favourable velocity” then to accelerate in theother portions.

Further, in the context of modulating the velocity of the carriages 5,the control unit 13 might be configured for accelerating the carriage 5at a first labelling unit 28 and braking it at a second labelling unit28 as a function of the length of the labels to be applied. In otherwords, the “machine 1 step” (distance between two plates 11) is variedas a function of requirements. Therefore the present invention enablesapplication of a longer label than the machine step 1.

Further, in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the machine 1comprises, for each base module 3 and for each respective carriage 5, acorresponding upper module 21 and upper carriage 22 spaced verticallyfrom the former; (in the following defined as the upper module and thelower carriage 5). The upper carriage 22 is mobile in a synchronisedmanner with the respective lower carriage 5. In detail, the uppercarriage 22 comprises a retaining unit 24 acting on a top portion of thecontainers 2 in such a way as to keep the container 2 stationary inposition.

The retaining unit 24 preferably comprises a jack which by exerting apressure on the top of the container 2 maintains the container 2 headedagainst the plate 11 in such a way as to keep it stationary in position.The pressure exerted enables the plate 11, the container 2 and the jackto together form a single body. In this case, the container 2 is in anycase carried by the lower carriage 5 according to what is commonly knownas “bottom handling”.

In other words, the machine 1 comprises two stators 6, 23 verticallysuperposed and aligned. In still other words, the lower stator 6 and theupper stator 23 follow like pathways.

Further, the number of carriages 5 mounted on upper stator 23 is equalto the number of carriages 22 mounted on the lower stator 6.

In an alternative embodiment, the number of carriages 5 mounted on theupper stator 23 is different to the number of carriages 22 mounted onthe lower stator 6. For example, the number of carriages 5 mounted onlower stator 6 is greater than the number of carriages 22 mounted on theupper modules 23.

In particular, one or more of the carriages 5 mounted on the lowerstator 6 can comprise plates 11 having a different format to the plates11 of at least a part of the remaining carriages 5. In this way it isadvantageously possible to load the containers 2 only on the carriages 5with the plate 11 of the desired format as a function of workingrequirements. During the working condition of the machine 1, thecarriages 5 with the plates 11 of the undesired format also move(commanded by the control unit 13) along the feed direction 4 withoutinterfering with the other carriages 5.

Each retaining unit 24 preferably comprises a jack configured forexerting a pressure on the container 2 towards the lower carriage 5 insuch a way as to keep the container 2 stationary in position.

To guarantee maintaining the container 2 in position, the lower carriage5 and the respective upper carriage move alignedly and the control unit13 is configured for moving the carriages 5, maintaining the alignment.

In practice, the movements of each pair of upper and lower carriages 5reproduces the movement of the bottle along the feed direction 4, whilethe rotating plate 11 guarantees that the bottle can rotate about theaxis thereof.

In other words, each pair of plates 11 and jack moves on two parallelhorizontal planes, and the rotation axis thereof is the same.

Further, the machine 1 comprises modifying means 25 of the distancebetween an upper carriage 22 and the respective lower carriage 5 so asto change the distance as a function of the height of the containers 2to be worked.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a machine 1 having a lower stator 6 and acorresponding upper stator 23. The modifying means 25 of the distance isdefined by the fact that the upper stator 23 can slide in a verticaldirection on runners which guarantee the possibility of carrying out aheight adjustment.

The figure also shows that the machine 1 comprises a main frame 26 onwhich the lower stator 6 and the upper stator are mounted.

In FIG. 3 the lower plates 11 slide internally of the lower stator 6.Supports for engaging the labelling units 28 are mounted on the externalperiphery of the lower stator 6.

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment in which the lower plates 11 and theupper jacks are mounted at an external side of the stator 6. In thiscase, the upper stator 23 is supported by the inside thereof.

Naturally the present invention described in the foregoing for themachine 1 might be implemented for a conveyor from or towards a machine1 (therefore upstream or downstream thereof), like, for example, atransfer star or the like.

FIGS. 3b and 8 illustrate variant realisations in which the uppercarriage 22 defines an active linear motor and is mechanically connected(for example by means of a bar 29) in a fixed way to the lower carriage5 which is maintained deactivated so as to remain idle on the basemodule 3 so that the upper carriage 22 draws the lower carriage 5. Inthis way, the lower carriage 5 is only slidable on the base 3, but doesnot define a linear motor.

FIG. 3b represents a case in which the movement means 12 of the plate 11is motorised, while FIG. 8 illustrates a case where the movement means12 of the plate 11 is of a mechanical type.

As regards the functioning of the machine 1, it is directly derived fromwhat has been described above and in the foregoing.

The machine 1 according to the present invention is normally inserted ina broader context of a conveying system of containers 2 in which eachcontainer 2 is borne (by a conveyor belt, spacing means and input star)on a plate 11 of the machine 1 which transports the container 2 alongthe feed direction 4 up to an outlet star which extracts the container 2from the machine 1.

Along the feed direction 4, each container 2 passes by different units.

For example, the first device that encounters the container 2 is afollowing detecting device which samples the profile of the container 2in the search for a recognition sign with respect to which the firstlabel is to be applied.

Thereafter, the container 2, by moving along the straight forwardportion 8, encounters a first labelling unit 28 which applies the firstlabel, then following the curve, and in the straight return portion 10encounters, for example, a second and a third labelling group whichrespectively apply the second and third label.

Lastly the bottle is collected by the carriage 5 from the outlet starand deposited on an outlet conveyor belt.

In this case, the feed circuit is formed by two curved portions (two180° curves) and by two straight portions.

The operations that are carried out on the bottle, such as theorientation and the application of labels advantageously take place inthe two straight portions of the circuit.

It is clear that if it were desired to engage new labelling units 28 tothe circuit, it would be sufficient to lengthen only the straightportions. For example, a linear portion might be added on each side toincrease the length of the straight pathway, and consequently the spacefor the addition of new labelling units 28.

The present invention attains the set aims.

Firstly the present invention enables reducing the design times of themachine 1, as it is only necessary to decide on the length of thestraight portions as a function of the working needs, while the rest(engaging and the performance of the labelling unit 28, radii ofcurvature, . . . ) would remain equal and fixed.

Secondly, the spaces occupied by the machine 1 would be smaller than amachine 1 having a rotating carousel. In fact, according to the presentinvention, a large part of the space that first was at the centre of thecarousel on a traditional machine 1 is recuperated as the stator 6substantially has a “0” shape (zero).

Further, with the present invention it is possible to modify theperformance and characteristics of production of the machine 1 withoutphysical re-designing. In fact, the present invention enables easilyvarying the number of plates (it is sufficient to add carriages 5), the“machine 1 step” (it is sufficient to adequately accelerate or brake thecarriages 5) and the dimensions (it is sufficient to add/remove basemodules 3).

Lastly, the conveying system of the bottles on the plates (screwconveyor, transfer star, . . . ) would stay the same with respect towhat has been used up to now as it would be sufficient to coordinate theradius of curvature of the curved portion 9 with the radius of the star.

1. A conveying machine for containers, the conveying machine comprising: a plurality of carriages, wherein the plurality of carriages are movable independently of one another; at least one base module having a predetermined length along a feed direction of the containers for defining at least a part of a main feed circuit; a supporting carriage for the containers included in the plurality of carriages, wherein the supporting carriage is slidably mounted on said base module and movable along the feed direction for moving the containers themselves; wherein said at least one base module and said at least one supporting carriage together define a linear motor that includes a stator and a rotor, wherein the stator comprises the base module and the rotor comprises the supporting carriage; a supporting plate for supporting the containers, wherein the supporting plate is rotatably mounted on the supporting carriage and is rotatable about an own axis transversal to the feed direction of the containers in such a way as to rotate a respective container, in use positioned on the supporting plate, about itself with respect to the supporting carriage; means for moving the supporting plate, wherein the means for moving are operatively connected to the supporting plate to rotate the supporting plate about itself; at least an application unit of a recognising sign on the container arranged laterally with respect to the feed direction so as to apply the recognition sign on the container; a control unit operatively connected to the supporting carriage for commanding movement thereof along the feed direction and operatively connected to the means for moving the supporting plate for activating the rotation of the supporting plate or for blocking the supporting plate in a desired rotated angular position; wherein said control unit is configured for: controlling the position of the supporting carriage along the feed direction; activating the rotation of the plate before the supporting carriage on which the plate is mounted has reached the application unit so as to bring the container loaded thereon into a desired angular position when the supporting carriage reaches the application unit; subsequently applying the recognition sign on the container in the rotated angular position.
 2. The conveying machine according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured for controlling the angular position of the plate during the transit of the supporting carriage at the application unit.
 3. The conveying machine according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured for maintaining the supporting plate in the rotated angular position during the transit of the supporting carriage at the application unit, or for rotating the supporting plate starting from the rotated angular position during the transit of the supporting carriage at the application unit.
 4. The conveying machine according to claim 1, further comprising an auxiliary carriage operatively associated to the supporting carriage and mobile with respect thereto so as to come near to the supporting carriage or become distant from the supporting carriage or maintain a constant distance from the supporting carriage; said means for moving being arranged between the supporting carriage and the auxiliary carriage and being configured for rotating the supporting plate about itself in a case of reciprocal nearing or distancing between the supporting carriage and the auxiliary carriage and for blocking the plate in position in a case of maintaining the constant distance between the two.
 5. The conveying machine according to claim 4, wherein the auxiliary carriage defines the rotor of a linear motor.
 6. The conveying machine according to claim 4, wherein the auxiliary carriage is mounted on a base module belonging to the main feed circuit of the supporting carriage.
 7. The conveying machine according to claim 4, wherein the auxiliary carriage is mounted on at least an auxiliary module belonging to an auxiliary circuit that is different with respect to the main feed circuit and having a feed direction parallel thereto.
 8. The conveying machine according to claim 7 characterised in that the auxiliary circuit and the main feed circuit are respectively superposed.
 9. The conveying machine according to claim 4, wherein the means for moving comprises a first part connected to the auxiliary carriage and a second part connected to the supporting carriage; said first part and said second part being in reciprocal contact so that movement of the first part with respect to the second part generates a rotation of the supporting plate.
 10. The conveying machine according to claim 9, wherein the first part and the second part of the means for moving comprises mechanical gearings.
 11. The conveying machine according to claim 4, wherein the auxiliary carriage is configured to be mechanically connected to the supporting carriage during the movement of the auxiliary carriage and the supporting carriage.
 12. The conveying machine according to claim 1, wherein the means for moving comprises an electric motor operatively connected to the supporting plate to rotate the supporting plate; said conveying machine further comprising a control unit operatively connected to the electric motor and configured for controlling rotation thereof.
 13. The conveying machine according to claim 12, further comprising: a guide separate from and flanked to the base module; a runner which slides on the guide; electric power supply cables of the motor extending between the supporting carriage and an electrical connection unit mounted on the sliding runner.
 14. The conveying machine according to claim 13, wherein said guide and the runner are positioned between a forward portion of the main feed circuit and a return portion of the main feed circuit; said electrical connection unit comprising a rotating electrical connector connected between the electrical power supply cables of the motor and electrical power cables connectable to an electrical power source.
 15. The conveying machine according to claim 1, wherein the means for moving is of a mechanical type and comprises a mechanical transmission operatively interposed between the supporting plate and the base module and configured for taking the movement of the supporting carriage relative to the base module and carrying the supporting carriage to the supporting plate.
 16. The conveying machine according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured for controlling the electric motors of each supporting plate independently of one another in such a way as to rotate the respective supporting plates independently.
 17. The conveying machine according to claim 1, wherein the supporting plate is configured for supporting a container by a base thereof or the supporting plate comprises retaining means configured for supporting a container by a top of the container.
 18. The conveying machine according to claim 1, further comprising, for each base module and for each respective carriage, a corresponding upper module and an upper carriage spaced vertically from the base module and a lower module and a lower carriage; said upper carriage being movable in a synchronised manner with the respective lower carriage; the upper carriage comprising a retaining unit acting on a top portion of the containers in such a way as to keep the container stationary in position.
 19. The conveying machine according to claim 19, wherein the upper carriage defines an active linear motor and is mechanically connected in a fixed way to the lower carriage which is maintained deactivated so as to remain idle on the base module so that the upper carriage draws the lower carriage.
 20. The conveying machine according to claim 19, wherein a number of carriages mounted on the lower modules is greater than a number of carriages mounted on the upper modules. 